The real question is, how much is it worth to you? If you'd actually pay $128 for a wallet like this then suck it up and buy it. If not, forget it. Forget about the shipping cost in relation to the wallet, etc.

What would you get for $128 elsewhere?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journeyman

+1.
When shopping overseas, it really only makes sense to look at the total price, not the nett price of the goods plus shipping. Then, the questions becomes, can I get a similar wallet here in Oz and, if so, how much will it cost?
If, for example, such a wallet would cost you $200, and the overseas wallet costs $128, then clearly the overseas wallet is a better deal, regardless of the shipping costs.
It's also worth noting that postage costs have risen markedly over the past few years and that it's not particularly reasonable to expect small businesses, like the above wallet-maker, to swallow shipping costs just because you only want to pay $20 instead of $28 in shipping.

Here is a simple question, why should I pay $38 to ship something that weighs 500g from U.S.A to Melbourne?

If the wallet did cost $120 and shipping was $10 that would be differnet, becasue I wouldn;t pay $120 for that wallet, or any wallet.

Your argument is flawed in that you ARE looking at the total price.

I am looking at what is a reasonable price to charge for shipping an item, any item, from one country to another.

Whilst I was reading up on eBay the other day, I came across a study which compared how people split the cost of an item and shipping in their purchasing decision.

It seemed to suggest that if there were two auctions with the same total price, but one had most of the price in the item and a small shipping cost and the other had a cheaper item cost and a more expensive shipping cost, then the latter auction type would consistently perform better.

The study explained that many consumers prefer to do what Unnamed Player is doing (nothing wrong with this necessarily), and split their decision into one about the item and one about the shipping.

But, this seems to be the opposite of ASOS's wildy successful "free shipping" model, which just absorbs the shipping cost into the total price. Interesting.

People gripe about shipping on here all the timem\ including some of the posters who have had a go at that other guy for doing it.

$38 for a wallet is manifestly excessive compared to what you usually pay for small items postage, no doubt. Yes, if you can't get the wallet anywhere else, then maybe you have to wear it. Yes, it's probably still a better deal than anything you can get in Aus. Who cares, it's still a lot of money for a small item. But maybe, just maybe, the extra $38 put it over the OPs wallet budget.

No point getting on each other for minor things, it should be beneath the stylish gentleman.

If the wallet did cost $120 and shipping was $10 that would be differnet, becasue I wouldn;t pay $120 for that wallet, or any wallet.

Personally I think a wallet is something that it is worth spending a bit on. It's something that you will have for years and you'll use it all the time in contrast to an expensive pair of shoes or an item of clothing. Having said that though, I'm running a two wallet cutter at the moment. For coat days I have a reindeer leather job from the great english outdoors company. I love the story behind the leather more than anything.

Personally I think a wallet is something that it is worth spending a bit on. It's something that you will have for years and you'll use it all the time in contrast to an expensive pair of shoes or an item of clothing. Having said that though, I'm running a two wallet cutter at the moment. For coat days I have a reindeer leather job from the great english outdoors company. I love the story behind the leather more than anything.

That thing is a beast.

Don't you find it annoying to change things between the two (I imagine you must have a lot of stuff if you are carrying such a large one around)? I know I would, and be very pissed when something I needed wasn't in my wallet.